Avalanche News

Practice Report: Potential Scenarios

by
Aaron Lopez
/ Colorado Avalanche

As mentioned in Monday’s Practice Report, the Avalanche has two possible scenarios it may encounter in the second round of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both scenarios hinge on Tuesday night’s Game 7 between the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks.

Teams are reseeded for the Western Conference Semifinals, meaning that the highest remaining seed will face the lowest remaining seed, while the second-highest seed will take on the third-highest.

Scenario 1: Colorado vs. DetroitHow it happens: San Jose defeats Calgary in Game 7 TuesdaySeedings: #1 Detroit would face #6 Colorado, while #2 San Jose would take on #5 Dallas. Season Series: The Red Wings won all four regular-season matchups with the Avalanche in regulation.Playoff History: The Avs and Red Wings have previously met five times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Colorado winning three of those matchups.Last Time Out: Colorado and Detroit last met in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, with the Red Wings winning the series 4-3.Notes: The Avalanche and Red Wings would be meeting in the playoffs for the sixth time since the Avs moved to Denver in 1995-96…These two teams have combined to win five Stanley Cup titles over the past 12 years, with the Avalanche claiming Lord Stanley in 1996 and 2001 and the Wings taking it home in 1997, '98 and 2002…The Avs are 17-13 in playoff games versus the Wings, 9-6 at home and 8-7 at Joe Louis Arena.

Scenario 2: Colorado vs. DallasHow it happens: Calgary tops San Jose in Game 7 TuesdaySeedings: #1 Detroit would take on #7 Calgary and # 5 Dallas would square off with #6 Colorado.Season Series: The teams split their four-game season series, with each club gaining four points.Playoff History: The Avs and Stars have faced each other four times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with each team skating away victorious twice.Last Time Out: Colorado and Dallas last met in the 2006 Western Conference Quarterfinals, with Colorado taking the series 4-1.Notes: The Avs have won their last two playoff series against the Stars, finishing off both series (2004 & 2006) in five games during the Western Conference Quarterfinals…The Avs are 14-10 in playoff games versus the Stars, 7-4 at home and 7-6 in Dallas…Both Dallas and Colorado protected its home ice during their regular season series, as the Stars won both games at American Airlines Center and the Avs earned two victories at Pepsi Center.

Following Tuesday’s practice, a few Avalanche players shared their thoughts on the upcoming Western Conference Semifinals with one common theme emerging: While the Avs are still waiting to find out who they’ll play, the team feels it will be equally prepared for either the Red Wings or the Stars.

“Chances are, if you’re going to get to where you want to be, you going to have to play both of them anyway; at least there’s a chance. Whoever we face, it’s going to be a great series, it’s going to be a tough series and we have to be ready for whoever it is.”-Joe Sakic“It’s out of our control right now. We’ll play whoever we’re going to play. But we know one thing; it’s going to be a tough challenge. I have a lot of respect for both teams. Dallas is playing really well and Detroit too.”-Ian Laperriere

“It doesn’t really matter, because we can’t do anything about it. So we just have to make sure if we start Thursday, that’s great. We’ll go to Detroit and see what we can do. We just need to make sure we’re ready for both”-Peter Forsberg